U.S. patent application number 10/664749 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-22 for integrated intake manifold and air cleaner for engine without a throttle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.. Invention is credited to Powell, Jeffrey Joseph.
Application Number | 20040074466 10/664749 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32096328 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040074466 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Powell, Jeffrey Joseph |
April 22, 2004 |
Integrated intake manifold and air cleaner for engine without a
throttle
Abstract
A module for providing purified air to an internal combustion
engine that does not use a throttle body. The module includes a
housing an inlet for receiving fresh air and a filter for filtering
the fresh air to provide purified air. The module is attached to
the engine by at least one mounting member. The module also
includes a plurality of runners extending between the housing and
the at least one mounting member, wherein the runners direct the
purified air to combustion chambers of the engine.
Inventors: |
Powell, Jeffrey Joseph;
(Belle River, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Elsa Keller, Legal Assistant
Intellectual Property Department
SIEMENS CORPORATION
186 Wood Avenue South
Iselin
NJ
08830
US
|
Assignee: |
Siemens VDO Automotive Inc.
|
Family ID: |
32096328 |
Appl. No.: |
10/664749 |
Filed: |
September 18, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60420073 |
Oct 21, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
123/184.42 ;
123/198E |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02M 35/024 20130101;
F02M 35/112 20130101; F02M 35/116 20130101; F02M 35/10111 20130101;
F02M 35/10118 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
123/184.42 ;
123/198.00E |
International
Class: |
F02M 035/10 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A module for providing purified air to an internal combustion
engine that does not use a throttle body, comprising: a housing
having an inlet for receiving fresh air; a filter for removing
impurities from said fresh air to provide purified air, wherein
said filter resides in said housing; at least one mounting member
for attaching said module to said engine; and a plurality of
runners extending between said housing and said at least one
mounting member, wherein said runners direct said purified air to
combustion chambers of said engine.
2. The module according to claim 1, wherein said engine includes a
substantially in-line cylinder arrangement.
3. The module according to claim 1, wherein said engine includes a
substantially V-shaped cylinder arrangement.
4. The module according to claim 1, wherein said runners are
substantially U-shaped.
5. The module according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a
removable cover.
6. The module according to claim 1, wherein said filter element is
fabricated from paper media.
7. The module according to claim 1, wherein said filter element is
fabricated from synthetic media.
8. The module according to claim 1, wherein said filter element is
removable.
9. The module according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes a
plenum which is in fluid communication with said runners.
10. The module according to claim 9, wherein said plenum includes a
geometry for forming a venturi.
11. An intake manifold and air cleaner module for an internal
combustion engine that does not use a throttle body, comprising: a
housing having a filter element, said housing including a fresh air
inlet and a plenum; at least one mounting member for attaching said
module to said engine; and a plurality of runners extending between
said plenum and said at least one mounting member, wherein said
runners provide fluid communication between said air inlet and said
engine.
12. The module according to claim 11, wherein said engine includes
a substantially in-line cylinder arrangement.
13. The module according to claim 11, wherein said engine includes
a substantially V-shaped cylinder arrangement.
14. The module according to claim 11, wherein said runners are
substantially U-shaped.
15. The module according to claim 11, wherein said housing includes
a removable cover.
16. The module according to claim 11, wherein said filter element
is fabricated from paper media.
17. The module according to claim 11, wherein said filter element
is fabricated from synthetic media.
18. The module according to claim 11, wherein said filter element
is removable.
19. The module according to claim 11, wherein said plenum includes
a geometry for forming a venturi.
20. A method for providing purified air to an internal combustion
engine that does not use a throttle body, comprising: providing a
housing an inlet for receiving fresh air; removing impurities from
said fresh air by using a filter to provide purified air; and
providing a plurality of runners for directing said purified air
from said housing to combustion chambers of said engine.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/420,073 (Attorney Docket No. 2002 P 16919 US)
filed on Oct. 21, 2002 in the name of Jeffrey Joseph Powell and
entitled INTEGRATED INTAKE MANIFOLD AND AIR CLEANER FOR ENGINE WITH
NO THROTTLE, which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to air induction systems, and more
particularly, to an integrated manifold and air cleaner module for
providing purified air to an engine that does not utilize a
throttle body.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Internal combustion engines utilize filtered air in order to
minimize engine wear. The air is filtered by an air cleaner which
is typically located under the hood of a vehicle. The air cleaner
includes a filter disposed in a housing having an air intake for
receiving outside (dirty) air and an air outlet from which clean
air exits. A hose or other conduit is then used to route the clean
air to a throttle body which serves to regulate the flow of air to
an intake manifold. The intake manifold then distributes the air to
all cylinders of the engine in a manner suitable for achieving the
proper combustion of fuel.
[0004] The throttle body on current engines is located on the
intake manifold such that the air is directed to a plenum of the
manifold. This is a disadvantage since clearances must be designed
into the throttle body area, thus restricting the geometry of the
intake manifold. In addition, recent developments in technologies
relating to intake valve motion, such as electronic valve timing,
variable valve timing and others, have resulted in elimination of
the throttle body. As such, there is a need for an integrated
intake manifold and air cleaner for engines that do not use a
throttle body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A module for providing purified air to an internal
combustion engine that does not use a throttle body is disclosed.
The module includes a housing having a filter and an inlet for
receiving fresh air. The filter removes impurities from the fresh
air so as to provide purified air to the engine. The module is
attached to the engine by at least one mounting member. The module
also includes a plurality of runners extending between the housing
and the at least one mounting member, wherein the runners direct
the purified air to combustion chambers of the engine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an integrated intake manifold and
air cleaner module for an internal combustion engine that does not
use a throttle body.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a side view of the module.
[0008] FIG. 3 is an exploded side view of the module.
[0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of an
integrated intake manifold and air cleaner module for an internal
combustion engine that does not use a throttle body.
[0010] FIG. 5 is an assembled view of the alternate embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding
that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of
the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the
invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the
description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the
same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of FIGS.
1-5.
[0012] Recent developments in technologies relating to intake valve
motion, such as electronic valve timing, variable valve timing and
others, have resulted in elimination of the throttle body.
Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an integrated intake manifold
and air cleaner module 10 for an internal combustion engine that
does not use a throttle body is shown. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 1, the module 10 is adapted for use with an engine having an
in-line cylinder configuration, such as an in-line 4 cylinder
engine. The module 10 includes an air filter cover 12 having a
fresh air inlet 14 for receiving outside air. A hose or other
conduit may be connected to the inlet 14 to facilitate access to
outside air. The module 10 further includes a manifold assembly 16
having an upper member 18 which is removably attached to the cover
12. A plurality of hollow tubes or runners 20 extend between the
upper member and a mounting member 22. The runners 20 may be
generally U-shaped, although it is noted that other configurations
may be used. The mounting member 22 is adapted for mounting to a
cylinder head portion of an engine. The runners 20 provide fluid
communication between the upper member 18 and the combustion
chambers of the engine.
[0013] Referring to FIG. 3, an exploded view of the module 10 is
shown. A removable filter element 24 having filter 26 and base 28
portions is located between the upper member 18 and the cover 12.
The filter portion 26 resides within a cavity 30 formed in the
cover 12. The base portion 28 is located adjacent a plenum portion
32 formed in the upper member 18. The filter 26 serves to remove
impurities such as particles, gases, dirt, pollution and other
undesirable substances from incoming air. The filter 26 may be
fabricated from paper media in a panel configuration and may
include a urethane seal. Alternatively, the filter 26 may be
fabricated from synthetic media that is supported by a rigid frame
fabricated from plastic which also includes a seal. The cover 12 is
selectively removable from the upper member 18 to allow repair,
servicing or replacement of the filter 26.
[0014] In use, outside air is drawn in through the inlet 14.
Impurities in the outside air are then entrapped by the filter 26
to thus provide purified air. The plenum 32 is in fluid
communication with the runners 20 and may include a suitable
geometry for forming a venturi 33 for optimizing air flow. The
purified air is then directed by the plenum 32 and runners 20 to
the combustion chambers for use in the combustion process. In
accordance with the present invention, the configuration of the
module 10 results in an air cleaner portion that is smaller than
conventional air cleaners since a hose or other conduit is not
required for directing air to a manifold from the air cleaner
portion.
[0015] Referring to FIG. 4, an exploded view of an alternate
embodiment of a module 34 is shown. As previously described, the
module 34 is for use with an internal combustion engine that does
not use a throttle body. In this embodiment, the module 34 is
adapted for use with engines having cylinders that are arranged in
a V configuration thus forming two cylinder heads at a top portion
of the V, such as in a V6 or V8 engine. The module 34 includes a
generally rectangular shaped housing 36 having a cavity 38. The
module 34 also includes first 40 and second 42 mounting members
which are adapted to mount to associated cylinder heads. A
plurality of runners 44 extend between the housing 36 and the first
40 and second 42 mounting members to provide fluid communication
between the cavity 38 and the combustion chambers of the
engine.
[0016] A removable filter element 46 resides within the cavity 38.
The filter 46 is fabricated from materials similar to that
described in connection with FIGS. 1-3. An air filter cover 48 is
removably attached to the housing to cover the filter 46. The cover
48 includes a fresh air inlet 50 for receiving outside air. An
assembled view of the module 34 is shown in FIG. 5.
[0017] In use, outside air is drawn in through the inlet 50.
Impurities in the outside air are then entrapped by the filter 46
to thus provide purified air. The purified air is then directed by
the runners 34 to the combustion chambers for use in the combustion
process.
[0018] While the invention has been described in conjunction with
specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives,
modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to
those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.
Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention embrace all
such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the
scope of the appended claims.
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